Tensions flared along the Jind-Panipat corridor in Haryana's Panipat district when residents of Saudapur village blocked the official convoy of Cabinet Minister Krishan Lal Panwar. The minister was travelling towards Panipat from his constituency when local shopkeepers and homeowners intercepted his vehicles to voice severe objections against an impending demolition drive. The public works department had surveyed the stretch and marked several commercial and residential structures for demolition as part of an ongoing highway widening project, triggering widespread unease among locals.
Saudapur Residents Intercept Convoy Over PWD Markings
Saudapur village lies along the busy Panipat-Jind road, where the state administration has proposed building a four-lane highway to ease recurring traffic congestion. In preparation for the expansion, personnel from the Public Works Department recently marked multiple roadside houses and storefronts. PWD staff had arrived on site to initiate demolition work, prompting villagers to gather in large numbers. Spotting the minister's transit through the village, the crowd brought the convoy to a standstill and demanded immediate political intervention to protect their properties.
184 Crore Highway Outlay And Drain Realignment Assurances
After listening to the grievances of the assembled residents, Cabinet Minister Krishan Lal Panwar directed the concerned department to halt all demolition activities immediately. Addressing the gathering, the minister explained that the Jind to Panipat stretch witnesses the heaviest volume of vehicular movement, leading the state government to sanction an investment of 184 crore rupees for the corridor. While confirming that Saudapur will get the highway upgrade, he assured the public that no business would face disruption.
Panwar stated that engineering adjustments would ensure that road construction proceeds without hindrance by routing the widened lanes over the existing drain. He firmly stated that not a single brick of the commercial shops would be demolished, promising that infrastructure development and local economic security would be balanced without dismantling roadside establishments.
Livelihood Worries Ease Following PWD Directive
Raju, a local resident present at the spot, explained that the department had initially marked between 1 and 3 feet of shop frontages for removal. For many shopkeepers, losing that space threatened their everyday livelihood. Raju noted that the minister promptly contacted the executive engineer by phone to order an immediate suspension of the work. While the minister's intervention has brought temporary relief to the villagers, local residents continue to keep a close watch on how the department adapts its structural plans during upcoming road works.
